children, or where, by their frugality and other serious and self-denying habits, they contribute, as far as they can, to benefit their offspring in this way.  Surely, whether we look at the usefulness and happiness of the individual, or the prosperity and security of the State, this, which was the course of our ancestors, is the better course.  Contrast it with that recommended by men in whose view knowledge and intellectual adroitness are to do everything of themselves.

We have no guarantee on the social condition of these well informed pupils for the use they may make of their power and their knowledge:  the scheme points not to man as a religious being; its end is an unworthy one; and its means do not pay respect to the order of things.  Try the Mechanics’ Institutes and the London University, &c. &c. by this test.  The powers are not co-ordinate with those to which this nation owes its virtue and its prosperity.  Here is, in one case, a sudden formal abstraction of a vital principle, and in both an unnatural and violent pushing on.  Mechanics’ Institutes make discontented spirits and insubordinate and presumptuous workmen.  Such at least was the opinion of Watt, one of the most experienced and intelligent of men.  And instruction, where religion is expressly excluded, is little less to be dreaded than that by which it is trodden under foot.  And, for my own part, I cannot look without shuddering on the array of surgical midwifery lectures, to which the youth of London were invited at the commencement of this season by the advertisements of the London University.  Hogarth understood human nature better than these professors:  his picture I have not seen for many long years, but I think his last stage of cruelty is in the dissecting room.

But I must break off, or you will have double postage to pay for this letter.  Pray excuse it; and pardon the style, which is, purposely, as meagre as I could make it, for the sake of brevity.  I hope that you can gather the meaning, and that is enough.  I find that I have a few moments to spare, and will, therefore, address a word to those who may be inclined to ask, what is the use of all these objections?  The schoolmaster is, and will remain, abroad.  The thirst of knowledge is spreading and will spread, whether virtue and duty go along with it or no.  Grant it; but surely these observations may be of use if they tend to check unreasonable expectations.  One of the most difficult tasks is to keep benevolence in alliance with beneficence.  Of the former there is no want, but we do not see our way to the latter.  Tenderness of heart is indispensable for a good man, but a certain sternness of heart is as needful for a wise one.  We are as impatient under the evils of society as under our own, and more so; for in the latter case, necessity enforces submission.  It is hard to look upon the condition in which so many of our fellow creatures are born, but they are not to be raised from it by partial and temporary expedients: